Refrigerating means and method



y 1931- I B. F. RANDEL 7 1,806,498

REERIGERATING MEANS AND METHOD Filed May 11. 192 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. 50 Foam PAJYDZZ A TTORNEY y 1931. B. F. RANDEL REFRIGERATING MEANS AND METHOD Filed May 1 92 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VIIIII/I/IIIII/l:

INVENTOR. .50 F'bm .Emwzz A TTORNE Y reference Patented 19, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE "no ronxn man, or sax nmoo, camroanu, assrenoa 'ro Eucrnotux sum coaroaarron, or new YORK, n. 2., a coarongrroiv or nmwm mnmmrme ms m 'METEOD Application man 11, 1927. -Ser1al in. 190,004.

My invention relates to refrigerating a'p-,

paratus and method, more particularly to the absorption type of refrigeration, and the ob- ]ectsof my invention are: first, to provide a 5, refrigeration apparatus which is operated by reason of the solubility ofvarious gases and the progressive com ressing of one gas by removing the others y liquefying; second,,to provide an apparatus of this class which is o erated by reason bf variation of pressure the gases caused by heating, then coolin and separatin then expanding, and then 'ssolving; thir to provide an apparatus of'this class in which the refrigerating energy is primarily produced by heating gases in a generator; fourth, to rovide an apparatus of this classin which t e gases in which the cooling medium' is expanded are not under constant pressure by reason of changes in pressure during its passage through the apparatus from a lower pressure to a maximum pressure, then to an expanded pressure, and finally back. to its original ressure; fifth, to provide a noval apparatus or refrigeration; sixth, to provide a novel method of producing refrigeration; seventh,

to provide a novel apparatus and method for producing'refrigeratlon, and eighth, to provide an apparatus and method of this class so which is ve simple and economical of cons'truction an operation, efiicient in its action,

durable, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view, as

will appear hereinafter, my inventio con: tion,.

sists of certain novel features of const combination and arrangement of parts and portions and the certain novel method, as will be hereinafter described inqdetail and 40 particularl set forth in the appended claims, eing' had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon, which form apart of thisapplic'ation, in which? t Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of' my refrigerating apparatus in one form, and Fig. 2 is a similar view of my refrigerating apparatus in a slightly modified form.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the views of the drawings.

The burner 1, generator 2, generator casing 3, water receiver 4, alcohol condenser 5, alcohol receiver 6, gas-trap 7, ammonia liquid receiver 8, ammoma condenser 9, carbon dioxide receiver 10, expansion nozzle 11, refrigerating freezing coils 12, freezing coil casing 13, screen m mber 14, absorber 15, tubular member 16, conductor 17, and injector members 18 and 19, constitute the prinw cipal parts and portions of my refrigerating apparatus,

1 The several parts, as hereinbefore set forth, are connected together by tubular conductors, preferably by spot weldin so that the form one continuous and comp ete umt, w 1ch s a gas-tight throughout. This apparatus 1s lled with predetermined portions of flllldS, and it is preferred to use water, alcohol, ammonia and carbon dioxide, each underpredetermined pressures and sealed within said up aratus. v

e operation is as follows:

- Heat is applied to the generator 2 b of the burner 1, which may be any means The combined liquid in the generator 2 will boil and rise from the generator through the tribe 2a to'the water receiver 4.. The pressure in the system is such as to prevent much a through the gas-trap 7 and ammonia receiver 8 to the ammonia condenser 9. This am- .0

11d of burner, but it is preferred to use a gas burner.

- monia condenser 9 will liqiiefy the ammonia, which will flow back' into the receiver 8, leaving the carbon dioxide gas to flowto the carbon dioxide receiver 10.

As an illustration we will assume that the heat is applied by reason of the burner 1 to provide the following partial pressures in the mixture in the receiver 4: ammonia, 182 pounds; carbon dioxide, 68 pounds; and alcohol, 50 unds, thus providing a total of 7 300 poun pressure throughout the system in order to maintain equilibrium. Through the progressive liquefyingin the various condensers, the generator being steadily supplied with additional vapors to make up for the condensed vapors, the remaining carbon dioxide gas in its receiver 10 will assume the entire total pressure of 300 pounds, which will produce the following conditions: liquid 2 ammonia gas in the receiver '8 under 300 pounds pressure, and carbon dioxide gas in the receiver 10 at 300 ounds pressure.

Now permit'the car on dioxide gas to expand in a permanent expansion nozzle 11, and, if desired, an expansion valve may be used here, the gas being expanded to 270 pounds or a drop in the pressure of pounds. Then permit the ammonia liquid to flow into this 270 pounds carbon dioxide gas. In order 30 to maintain, the equilibrium of300 pounds, the ammonia gas will assumethe balance or 30 pounds, and the ammonia, 30 pounds will have a temperature at zero. After the eez ing mixture of ammonia and carbon dioxide 5 gases has produced refrigeration in the freezing coils 12in the casing 13, they pass through -a screen 14, which is of which permits the lighter ammonia gas to pass readily, but holds the denser carbon dioxide back to a certain degree, but the whole passes into an absorber 15 between an outer casing 15a and an inner tubular member 16. The warmwater from the water receiver 4 passes downwardly through the tube 4a and mixes with the liquid'alcohol fromthe alcohol receiver 6 through the tube 6a, The cool gases from the freezing coil 12 will cool this mixture by permitting the gases to flow down the annular space between the mem- 1 bers 15 and 16, and the gases will mix at the lower end of the tubular member 16 with the water and alcohol by being led upwardly and v meetmg the liquids flowing downwardly.

through the perforated discs 16a, and will 56 e absorbed in these liquids.

It wlll be noted that the upwardmovement of the gas is brought about by action of the injector, consisting of the members 18 and 19, through the opening 16b-and tube 18a,-

00 and any gases not completely absorbed in the absorber will be drawn out through the exit 166 and mixed with the liquid at the injector. The combined mass of liquids and gas dissolved in the liquids will ly interact.

' porous material,

A pass through the v05 conductor 17 of'the in ector, consisting of the.

injector member 18 and Venturi tube 19, into the generator, thus completing the cycle.

It-will be noted that this a paratus and process will operate without t e use of alcohol. The function of the alcohol is to provide for complete solutionxof thecarbon dioxide, alcohol being several'times as effective for dissolving carbon dioxide as water is. The condensed alcohol vapor also assists in the gradual compression of the carbon dioxide in the complete total ressure.

It will also be noted that 0t er combinations of fluids may be used, such as water, ammonia and carbon dioxide, with the alcohol omitted, or alcohol, methyl chloride and carbon dioxide, or alcohol, ethyl chloride andcarbon dioxide, or any combination of gases dissolvable in the fluid used; provided, however, the combination of gases so used do not chemical- It will also be noted that diiferent styles of generator may be used, such as gas, steam, oil or electricity, or the'condensers may be cooled in various ways, such as air-cooled, wator-cooled and the like. Various forms of I evaporating chambers and absorbers may be 1 used. For instance, in the modified form of apparatus shown in Fig. 2, the apparatus is the same throughout, except there 1s provided a diflerent form of condenser for condensing the alcohol and ammonia, and adifi'erent form of absorber.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, the am inonia and alcohol vapors pass'through thetube 20a to a condenser 20. The condenser 20-consists of a central tubular portion 20?), an intermediate concentric-tubular portion 200, and an outer tubular member 20d. Between the members 200 and 2011 is provided a helical partition 20a, and the alcohol and ammonia vapors pass into the space between the inner and intermediate tubular portions at the up r end of the condenser and move downwar 1y and'out through the tube 20;

to the alcohol receiver 6, while the cooling no water for the condenser passes through the central tube 216 to the lower end of the condenser 21, then upwardly in the passage between the, outer and intermediate tubes in circular helical form, by reason of the helix 21.9, to the up r end of the. condenser 20 through a con uctor 20g, then to the inner compartment of a similar condenser 20, and performs the same cycle through said condenser, thus moving in the opposite direction to. the gas. The ammonia and carbon dioxide gases pass from the receiver 6 through the condenser 21 in'the same manner as in the condenser 20 and out into the ammonia liquid receiver 8, and the carbon 'dioXidegases pass to the carbon dioxide receiver 10, after which they take the course as hereinbefore described.

The absorber 22 is diflerent from the absorbei's shown in Fig. 1 in that the hot-water through the outer portion and out throug ran the tubes 22c and 22d, while the cool gases, after passing through the screen 14, enter the intermediate annular chamber 22c and pass downwardly and out through perforations 22f, intermingling with the water and.

alcohol which absorbs said ases, and the whole passes through the con uctors 220 and 22d of\the injector formed by the members 18 and 19, and back to thegenerator, which completes the cycle:

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arement of partsand portions, certain ifications thereof, a certain process and the use of certaiufluid combinations, I do not Wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement nor to the modifications nor to the particular process, nor to the particular fluids, but 'desire to include in the scope of my invention, the construction, combination and arrangement of apparatus and the certain process substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new "and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. In a refrigerating apparatus, a generator, a water receiver communicating therewith, an alcohol condenser communicating with saiduwater receiver, an alcohol receiver communicating with said alcohol condenser, an ammonia condenser, an ammoniareceiver communicating therewith,'a carbon dioxide receiver communicating with said ammonia condenser, an expansion member communi eating with said carbon dioxide receiver, a conductor connecting said ammonia receiver with the opposite side of said expansion member from? said carbon dioxide receiver, a freezing coil in connection with said conductor and the expansion side of said expansion member, an absorber communicating with said freezing coil, and an injector communicating with saidabsorber for conducting the fluid contents back to the'generator, 2. In a refrigerating apparatus, a closed and sealed circulating tubular apparatus provided with a plurality of variousvkinds of vaporizing fiuids'under predetermined pressures therein, means for heating said fluids,

separatemeans for condensingthe separate a5 vaporizing flulds under predetermined presa mixture of gases absorbed in liquids,- eac fluids, separate means for receiving the separate fluids, means for ex anding one of said ,flui'ds, and means for conducting another illlldil'liiO the presence thereof after expansion.

. 3. and sealed circu ating tubular apparatus provided with a lurality of variouskinds of In a refri crating apparatus, a" closed sures therein, means for heating said fluids, separate means for condensing the separate fluids, separate means for receiving the se arate fluids, means for expanding one of said fluids, means for conducting another fluid into the presence thereof after expansion, and means for reabsorbing the vapors from some of said fluids into other of said fluids.

4. The herein described method of refrigeration, consisting in. vaporizing a plurality of various kinds of vaporizing gases which are absorbed in a liquid medium which vaporizing is for the purpose of releasing the absorbed gases, then expanding one of said gases and intermingling the liquid from 'another gas therewith, and then reabsorbing said gases in said liquid. 4

5. The herein described method of refrigeration, consisting in producing a final high pressure in gas by progressive steps of removing gases from a mixture by condensing, thus accumulating all. the partial pressures in the remaining gas.

6. The herein described method of refrigeration, consisting in confiningv a solution of water, alcohol, ammonia and carbon dioxide, their heating the mixture until vaporized, then successively compressing the carbon dioxideuntil it is compressed to the total pressure in the system, then expanding the carbon dioxide to a lower pressure, and then expanding liquid ammonia therein.

7. The herein described method of refrigeration, consisting in confining a solution of water, alcohol, ammonia and carbon dioxide, then heating the mixture until vaporized, then successively compressing the carbondioxide until it is compressed to the total pres sure in the system, then expanding the carbon dioxide to a lower pressure, then expanding liquid ammonia therein, and then reabsorbing the gases in the water and alcohol to complete the cycle.

8. In a refrigerating'apparatus, a closed and sealed circulating apparatus containing receiving the condensed and liquefied gas,

and the gas remaining in vaporized form, means for expanding said gas remaining in vaporized form to a lower pressure, and means for Conducting the liquefied gas into \-the presence thereof after expansion vcausing evaporation of said liquefied gas into vapor form, thus forming a mixture of vaporized 9. In a refrigerating apparatus, a closed and sealed circulating apparatus containin liquid under a predetermined pressure, means for heating said liquids for releasing said absorbed gases out of the liquids, means for collecting said gases, means for separating said released gases from. each other by cooling, condensing and liquefying one of the same out of the mixture, separate means for receiving the condensed and liquefied gas, and the gas remaining in vaporized form, means for expanding said gas remaining in vaporized form to a lower pressure, means for conducting the liquefied gas into the presence thereof after expansion causing evaporation of said liquefied gas into vapor form, thus forming a mixture of vaporized gases, and means for reabsorbing the said mixture of vaporized gases into the first mentioned liquids, thus completing the cycle.

10; In a refrigerating apparatus, a closed and sealed circulating apparatus containing a mixture of gases absorbed in liquids, each liquid under a predetermined pressure, means for heating said liquids for releasing said absorbed gases out of the liquids, means for collecting said gases, means for separat ing said released gases from each other by cooling, condensing and liquefying one of the same out of the mixture, separate means for receiving the condensed and liquefied gas, and the gas remaining in vaporized form, means for expanding said gas remaining in vaporized form to a lower pressure, means for conducting the liquefied gas into the presence thereof after expansion causing evaporation of said liquefied gas into vapor form', thus iorminga mixture of vaporized gases, and means for partial separation of the said gases by ,the retardation of the How of the heavier gas and hastening the flow of the lighter gas.

11. In a refrigerating apparatus, a closed and sealed circulating apparatus containing a mixture of gases absorbed in liquids, each liquid under a predetermined pressure, means for heating said liquids for releasmg said absorbed gases out of the liquids, means for collecting said gases, means for separating said released gases from each other by cooling, condensing and liquefying. one of the same out of the mixture, separate means for receiving the condensed and liquefied gas, and the gas remaining in vaporized form, means for expanding said'gas remaining 1n vaporized form to a lower pressure, means for conducting the liquefied gas into the presence thereof after expansion causing evaporation of said liquefiedgas into vapor form, thus formnig a mixture of vaporized gases, means for partially separating said gases by the retardation of the flow of the heavier gas and hastening the flow of the hghter gas, and means for reabsorbing the said mixture of vaporized gases into the first mentioned liquids, thus completin the c cle.

12. The herein described metho of re igeration, consisting in vaporizing a mixture of gases absorbed in liquid mediums for releasing said absorbed gas mixture from the said liquid mediums, then separating the said vaporized gases from each other by condensing and liquefying one of the gases out of the gas mixture, addingthe total pressure in the system :to the gas remaining in vapor 'form, then expanding the said gas remaining in vapor form to a lower'pressure, then intermingling the liquefied gas with the said expanded gas, and causing said liquefied gas to evaporate and form a mixture with the expanded gas.

13. The herein described method of refrigeration, consisting in vaporizing a mixture of gases absorbed in liquid mediums for releasing said absorbed gas mixture from the said liquid mediums, then separating the said vaporized gases from each other by condensing and liquefying one of the gases out of the gas mixture, adding the total pressure in the system to the gas remaining in vapor form, then expanding the said gas remaining in vapor form to a lower pressure, then intermingling the liquefied gas with the said ex-' panded gas, causing said liquefied gas to evaporate and form a mixture with the expanded gas, and then causing the said gas mixture to pass through a retarding substance thereby retarding the flow of the heavier gas and hastening the flow of the lighter gas.

14. The herein described method of refrigeration, consisting in vaporizing a mixture of gases absorbed in liquid mediums for releasing said absorbed gas mixture from the said. liquid mediums, then separating the said vaporized gases from each other by condensing and liquefying one of the gases out of the gas mixture, adding the total pressure in the system to the gas remaining in vapor form, then expanding the said gas remaining in vapor form to a lower pressure, then intermingling the liquefied gas with the said expanded gas, causing said hquefield gas to evaporate and form a mixture with the expanded gas, and then causing the reabsorption of the gas mixture by the first mentioned liquids, thuscompletin the cycle.-

15. The herein described method of refrigeration, consisting in vaporizin a mixture of gases absorbed in liquid mediums for releasing said absorbed gas mixture from the said liquid mediums, then separating the 1 said vaporized gases from each other by condensing and liquefyin one of the gases out of the gas mixture, ad 'ng the total pressure in the system to the gas remaining in vapor form, then expanding the saidvgas remaining in vapor form to a lower pressure, then intermingling the liquefied gas with the said expanded gas, causing said liquefied as to evaporate and form a mixture with" t e ex-' panded gas, than causing the said gas mixture to pass through a retarding substance thereby retarding the flow of the heavier gas and hastening the flow of the lighter gas,

and then causin a reabsorption of the gas mixture by the completing the cycle.

mentioned liquids, thus In testimony whereofg I have hereunto set my hand at San Diego, California, this 5th day of May, 1927 n BO FOLKE RANDEL. 

